History of Pomona College in Timeline

Pomona College, founded in 1887 in Claremont, California, is a private liberal arts college. Established by Congregationalists aiming to replicate a New England-style college, it holds the distinction of being the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, a group of neighboring, affiliated institutions. Pomona is known for its academic rigor and its role as a leading liberal arts college on the West Coast.

1900: First Black Students Enrolled

In 1900, Pomona College enrolled its first black students, although the student body remained predominantly white.

1905: Acquisition of the Wash

In 1905, during President George A. Gates' tenure, Pomona College acquired a 64-acre parcel of land to its east, known as the Wash.

1908: Construction of the Carnegie Building

In 1908, the Carnegie Building, a neoclassical structure, was built as a Carnegie library on the Pomona College campus.

1908: Smiley Hall Dormitory Built

Smiley Hall dormitory, located east of the Smith Campus Center, was built in 1908.

1908: Development Guided by Myron Hunt's Master Plans

Starting in 1908, development of the Pomona College campus was guided by master plans from architect Myron Hunt, envisioning a central quadrangle.

1911: Elimination of Preparatory Department

In 1911, Pomona College eliminated its preparatory department, which had taught pre-college level courses, as high schools became more common in the region.

1913: First Appearance of the Name 'Sagehen'

In 1913, the name "Sagehen" first appeared as one of the names of Pomona's intercollegiate sports teams.

1914: Pomona Founding Member of SCIAC

In 1914, Pomona was one of the three founding members of the SCIAC.

1914: Phi Beta Kappa Chapter Established

In 1914, the Phi Beta Kappa honor society established a chapter at Pomona College.

1914: College Gates Built

In 1914, the college gates were built at the intersection of Sixth Street and College Avenue, marking the historical northern edge of the Pomona College campus.

1917: Sagehen Becomes Sole Moniker

In 1917, the name "Sagehen" became the sole moniker for Pomona's intercollegiate sports teams.

1921: Mandatory Chapel Attendance Ended

Daily attendance at chapel was mandated until 1921, marking a shift in student culture at Pomona College.

1923: Ralph Cornell Expanded on Hunt's Plans

In 1923, landscape architect Ralph Cornell expanded on Myron Hunt's plans, envisioning a "college in a garden" defined by native Southern California vegetation.

October 14, 1925: Claremont Colleges Consortium Founded

On October 14, 1925, Pomona College founded the Claremont Colleges consortium on its 38th anniversary.

1925: Founding member of Claremont Colleges consortium

In 1925, Pomona College became the founding member of the Claremont Colleges consortium, a group of adjacent, affiliated institutions in Claremont, California.

1927: Start of 'fountaining' tradition for women

The 'fountaining' tradition at Pomona College, in which students are thrown into a campus fountain on their birthday, dates back to 1927 for women.

1929: Construction of Clark Dormitories Began

In 1929, construction of the Clark dormitories on North Campus began, reflecting President Charles Edmunds' emphasis on residential life.

1930: Prometheus mural at Frary Dining Hall

In 1930, the Prometheus mural by José Clemente Orozco, which was the first Mexican fresco in the U.S., was installed at Frary Dining Hall.

1930: Completion of North Campus initial phase

In 1930, the initial phase of North Campus, designed by architect Sumner Spaulding, was completed. This area primarily consists of residential buildings for third- and fourth-year students and academic buildings for the natural sciences.

1941: E. Wilson Lyon Became President

In 1941, E. Wilson Lyon became Pomona College's longest-serving president, guiding the college through a transformational and turbulent period.

1942: Introduction of the Pomona Plan

In 1942, Pomona College introduced the Pomona Plan, a deferred giving fundraising scheme where participants receive a lifetime annuity in exchange for donating to the college upon their death.

1946: Pomona Joins with Claremont Men's College for Sports

In 1946, Pomona joined with Claremont Men's College (later Claremont McKenna College) to compete jointly as Pomona-Claremont.

1947: Completion of Mudd-Blaisdell Hall

In 1947, Mudd-Blaisdell Hall, the largest residential building on campus, was completed. The building's full title contained 47 characters, and a staircase inside the building has 47 balusters, which are examples of the college's number 47 tradition.

1950: Expansion of 'fountaining' tradition to include men

In 1950, the 'fountaining' tradition at Pomona College was expanded to include men.

1952: Exchange Program with Fisk University Established

In 1952, Pomona College established an exchange program with Fisk University, a historically black university in Tennessee.

1956: Separation of Pomona and Claremont Men's College Athletics

In 1956, the sports teams of Pomona and Claremont Men's College separated, and Pomona's athletics program operated independently.

1957: Frary Dining Hall Opened to Women

In 1957, Frary Dining Hall (then part of the men's campus) was opened to women, marking the end of gender segregation in Pomona's residential life.

1960: Genesis mural at Frary Dining Hall

In 1960, the Genesis mural by Rico Lebrun was installed at Frary Dining Hall.

1964: The Origin of Pomona's '47' Tradition

In the summer of 1964, students Laurie Mets and Bruce Elgin researched the frequency of the number 47 in nature. Professor Donald Bentley created a false proof that 47 was equal to all other integers. This led to '47' becoming a widespread meme at Pomona College.

1968: Co-educational Housing Introduced

In 1968, co-educational housing was introduced at Pomona College, along with the elimination of parietal rules.

1969: David Alexander Became President

In 1969, David Alexander became president of Pomona College, starting a period of increased prominence on the national stage.

1969: Establishment of Black and Latino Studies Programs

In 1969, activists successfully pushed the Claremont Colleges consortium to establish black and Latino studies programs.

1969: E. Wilson Lyon's Presidency Ends

In 1969, the transformational presidency of E. Wilson Lyon came to an end.

1970: Pomona Athletics Joins with Pitzer College

In 1970, Pomona's athletics program joined with Pitzer College to form the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.

1970: Classes Cancelled Due to Anti-War Protests

In spring 1970, classes were forced to be cancelled at the end of the semester after protesters opposing the Vietnam War occupied Sumner Hall to obstruct Air Force recruiters.

1979: Joe Menosky, class of 1979, inserted references to 47 into Star Trek

In 1979, Joe Menosky (class of 1979), a writer for Star Trek: The Next Generation, began inserting mentions of '47' into nearly every episode he wrote, a practice later adopted by other Star Trek writers.

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1984: Pomona College Women's Union Founded

In 1984, several identity-based groups were established, such as the Pomona College Women's Union.

1991: Fraternity Basements Converted to Lounges

In 1991, Pomona College converted the dormitory basements used by fraternities into lounges, lowering the profile of Greek life on campus.

1991: David Alexander's Presidency Ends

In 1991, the presidency of David Alexander came to an end after a period of increased prominence for the college.

1995: Inauguration of the Orientation Adventure Program

In 1995, Pomona College started the "Orientation Adventure" or "OA" program as part of its orientation. This program, involving four-day off-campus trips, became one of the oldest outdoor orientation programs in the U.S.

2003: Commitment to LEED Certification

In 2003, Pomona College committed to obtaining LEED certifications for new buildings as part of an effort to reduce its environmental impact.

2004: Partnership with Posse Foundation

In 2004, Pomona College entered into a partnership with the Posse Foundation, a college access group.

2005: Partnership with QuestBridge

In 2005, Pomona College entered into a partnership with QuestBridge, a college access group.

2007: Installation of Dividing the Light skyspace

In 2007, the skyspace Dividing the Light by Light and Space artist and alumnus James Turrell, was installed west of North College Way.

2008: Commitment to Meeting Full Financial Need

In 2008, Pomona College committed to meeting the full demonstrated financial need of students through grants rather than loans.

2008: Alma Mater Controversy

In 2008, it was discovered that Pomona's alma mater may have been written for a blackface minstrel show, leading to the college ceasing to sing it at convocation and commencement.

2009: Top Destinations for Graduates (2009-2018)

Between 2009 and 2018, the top destinations for Pomona College graduates were the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, Berkeley; Harvard University; the University of Southern California; and Stanford University.

2009: Establishment of the Draper Center for Community Partnerships

In 2009, the Draper Center for Community Partnerships was established to coordinate Pomona's community engagement programs, including youth mentoring, English tutoring for staff, spring break volunteering, and the Pomona Academy for Youth Success (PAYS).

2011: Dining Hall Workers Unionization Drive

In 2011, Pomona College requested proof of legal residency from employees amid a unionization drive by dining hall workers, leading to the firing of seventeen workers and national media attention.

2012: Discontinuation of Metate yearbook

Pomona College's yearbook, Metate, founded in 1894, was discontinued in 2012.

2013: Doctorates awarded to alumni (2013-2022)

According to data collected by the National Science Foundation for 2013 to 2022, Pomona College ranked 11th among U.S. colleges and universities for doctorates awarded to alumni per capita.

2013: Median family income of students as of 2013

As of 2013, the median family income of Pomona College students was $166,500, with 52% of students coming from the top 10% highest-earning families and 22% from the bottom 60%.

2013: Dining Hall Staff Unionized

In 2013, the dining hall staff voted to unionize. That same year, a rebranding initiative sought to emphasize students' passion and drive, angering students who thought it would lead to a more stressful culture.

2014: Completion of the Studio Art Hall

In 2014, the Studio Art Hall at Pomona College garnered national recognition for its steel-frame design.

2015: On-site informational events hosted in the 2015-2016 academic year

During the 2015‍–‍2016 academic year, 175 employers hosted on-site informational events at the Claremont Colleges.

2015: Forbes ranking of Pomona College (2015)

In 2015, the Forbes ranking placed Pomona College first among all colleges and universities in the U.S.

2015: Establishment of the Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity

In 2015, the Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity, known as "the Hive", was established to support creative learning at Pomona College.

2016: Organizations represented in career fairs in the 2015-2016 academic year

During the 2015–2016 academic year, 265 unique organizations were represented in 9 career fairs at the Claremont Colleges.

2016: Helen Goodwin Renwick House Listed on National Register

In 2016, the Helen Goodwin Renwick House, one of several historic Victorian houses lining the southern portion of College Avenue, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

2017: Pomona graduates attending graduate or professional school

According to a 2017 alumni survey, 81% of Pomona graduates attend graduate or professional school within 10 years of graduating.

2017: G. Gabrielle Starr Became President

In 2017, G. Gabrielle Starr became Pomona College's tenth president, the first woman and first African American to hold the office.

2017: G. Gabrielle Starr becomes Pomona College's president

In 2017, G. Gabrielle Starr became the president of Pomona College.

2017: Pomona's ranking in The New York Times' College Access Index (2017)

Pomona College was ranked second among private institutions and eighth among all institutions in The New York Times' 2017 College Access Index, which measures economic diversity.

2018: Top Destinations for Graduates (2009-2018)

2018: Graduation rates for the 2018 entering class

For the 2018 entering class at Pomona College, 61% of students graduated within four years, and 93% graduated within six years.

2018: Gold Rating in Sustainable Campus Index

In 2018, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education gave Pomona College a gold rating in its Sustainable Campus Index.

2018: Establishment of the Pomona College Humanities Studio

In 2018, the Pomona College Humanities Studio was established to support research in the humanities.

March 2020: Switch to Online Instruction Due to COVID-19

From March 2020 through the spring 2021 semester, Pomona College switched to online instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021: WASC Senior College and University Commission reaffirms Pomona's accreditation

In 2021, the WASC Senior College and University Commission reaffirmed Pomona's accreditation and praised its diversity initiatives.

2021: Return to in-person instruction

Pomona College resumed in-person instruction after the Spring 2021 semester following a period of online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Doctorates awarded to alumni (2013-2022)

According to data collected by the National Science Foundation for 2013 to 2022, Pomona College ranked 11th among U.S. colleges and universities for doctorates awarded to alumni per capita.

2023: Median salaries of Pomona alumni (2023)

According to 2023 survey data from PayScale, Pomona College alumni earn a median early career salary of $73,700 and a median mid-career salary of $146,400.

2023: Claremont Colleges Library holds 3.4 million items

As of 2023, The Claremont Colleges Library (also known as Honnold/Mudd Library) held more than 3.4 million items, including 1 million physical items and 2.3 million digital items.

2023: Campus Facilities

As of 2023, the Pomona College campus consists of 88 facilities, including 70 addressed buildings.

2023: Pomona College employs 902 total employees

As of the fall 2023 semester, Pomona College had a total of 902 employees.

2023: Retention rate for the 2023 entering class

For the 2023 entering class at Pomona College, 98% of students returned for their second year, giving Pomona one of the highest retention rates in the U.S.

2023: Distribution of majors for the 2023 graduation cohort

For the 2023 graduation cohort at Pomona College, 21% of students majored in the arts and humanities, 39% in the natural sciences, 24% in the social sciences, and 16% in interdisciplinary fields.

2023: Allocation of Pomona's budget for the 2023 fiscal year

In the 2023 fiscal year, Pomona College allocated 43% of its budget to instruction, 2% to research, 1% to public service, 13% to academic support, 17% to student services, and 24% to institutional support.

April 2024: Protests and Arrests over Divestment from Israel

In April 2024, 19 demonstrators occupying President Starr's office to urge divestment from Israel were arrested, leading to condemnations, protests, and the relocation of the commencement ceremony.

June 2024: Endowment Size

As of June 2024, Pomona College had a $3.01 billion endowment, ranking it among the wealthiest schools in the U.S. on a per-student basis.

June 2024: Pomona's endowment reaches $3.01 billion

As of June 2024, Pomona College had an endowment of $3.01 billion, making it one of the top 10 colleges or universities in the U.S. for endowment per student.

2024: Test scores of the 2024 entering class

Among students in the 2024 entering class who submitted test scores, the middle 50% scored 740–770 on the SAT evidence-based reading and writing section, 750–790 on the SAT math section, and 33–35 on the ACT.

2024: Study abroad programs offered as of 2024

As of 2024, approximately half of Pomona College students study abroad. The college offers 70 pre-approved programs in over 38 countries.

2024: Admissions statistics for the 2024 entering class

In 2024, Pomona College admitted 7.1% of applicants for the entering class, with 50.2% of those admitted choosing to enroll. Additionally, Pomona admitted 44 of 509 transfer applicants, which is 8.6%.

2024: Tuition fee for the 2024-2025 academic year

In 2024, Pomona College charged a tuition fee of $65,000, with a total estimated on-campus cost of attendance of $89,414 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

2024: Sagehens Rank Highly in Division III NACDA Directors' Cup

In 2024, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens ranked 15th out of 323 competing Division III schools in the Division III NACDA Directors' Cup.

2024: Class sizes at Pomona College in fall 2024

In the fall 2024 semester, 91% of traditional courses at Pomona College had under 30 students, and only four courses had 50 or more students.

2025: Pomona's rankings in medical, business, and law school placements (2025)

A 2025 analysis of the schools that send the most students per capita to the highest-ranked U.S. medical, business, and law schools placed Pomona 17th for medical schools, 22nd for business schools, and 14th for law schools.

2025: Student Enrollment

As of the fall 2025 semester, Pomona College enrolled approximately 1,700 students.

2025: Student body composition as of fall 2025

As of the fall 2025 semester, Pomona College's student body consisted of 1,690 degree-seeking undergraduate students.

2025: Financial aid distribution for the 2024-2025 academic year

In 2024–2025, 55% of Pomona College students received a financial aid package, with an average award of $67,027. 42% of international students received an average award of $79,064.

2025: Sagehens Rank Highly in Division III NACDA Directors' Cup

In 2025, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens ranked 15th out of 323 competing Division III schools and 2nd among SCIAC schools in the Division III NACDA Directors' Cup.

2025: U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking (2025)

The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Ranking places Pomona College tied for fifth in the national liberal arts colleges category.

2025: Operating budget for the 2024-2025 academic year

The operating budget for Pomona College for the 2024–2025 academic year was $271 million, with approximately half funded by endowment earnings.

2026: Pomona employs faculty members as of the spring 2026 semester

As of the spring 2026 semester, Pomona College employed faculty members, approximately four-fifths of whom were full-time, resulting in a 7∶1 ratio of students to full-time equivalent professors.